Newsmakers

Missouri State University selected Janet Graham, administrative secretary in the department of sociology and anthropology, and Brad Medlock, press operator at printing services, as the two recipients of the 2006 Excellence in Community Service Award. Honorees must be MSU employees who demonstrate personal action to community causes, a significant and sustained record of volunteer service and significant contributions to improve the quality of community life. Graham and Medlock each received a plaque and a $1,200 cash award.

Springfield City Council named William Robert “Bob” Cole and David D. Joy to the Springfield Building Trades Examination and Certification Board. Joy's term expires Oct. 1, 2007, while Cole will serve through Oct. 1, 2008.

Wonders of Wildlife National Fish and Wildlife Museum & Aquarium received a $100,000 commitment from the National Wild Turkey Federation. The money will be used to help WOW with its mission to educate, inform and entertain visitors about the value of fish and wildlife and to help people appreciate the history and heritage of hunting and fishing.

Stephen C. Morrow was named ombudsman for the state's Office of the Child Advocate for Children's Protection and Services. Morrow, of Bolivar, served as the chief student life officer and vice president for student development at Southwest Baptist University. The child advocate office monitors services and programs offered by the departments of Social Services and Mental Health.

Education

Drury University received a $466,560 grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to fund an expansion of the Missouri Math Academy. The grant will support mentors who will bring the academy's professional development programs to 150 mathematics teachers in Clay, Jackson and Platte counties.

MSU named six winners of its Staff Excellence in University Service Award. Karen Engler, laboratory supervisor in communication sciences and disorders; Stacey Funderburk, publications director; Brad Kielhofner, design and construction project manager; Fred Marty, assistant vice president for administration; Theresa McCoy, senior systems analyst; and Kevin White, senior photographer, were the recipients, each receiving a $1,500 cash award.

Boyd Elementary School Principal James Grandon made a presentation to the Missouri Board of Education in Jefferson City. Grandon, along with Drury University professor Daniel Beach, discussed the ongoing partnership between Drury and Springfield Public Schools through the Comer School Development Program, which is intended to increase academic achievement and decrease dropout rates by promoting physical, cognitive, psychological, language, social and ethical development in students.

Engineering

Allgeier, Martin and Associates Inc. Consulting Engineers in Joplin added three new employees. Harold McCoy joined the company as director of business development after recently retiring from 40 years of service with the city of Joplin. Mike Walker is the company's new director of marketing, bringing 20 years of sales and marketing experience. John Briggs joined the company as an engineer in training after graduating from the University of Arkansas in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.

Chesney Beck, engineer in training, joined the staff of Mettemeyer Engineering LLC as a project structural engineer. Beck has three years of engineering experience. He is responsible for coordinating and designing structural systems for commercial buildings.

Health

Karen R. Thomas, president of Oxford HealthCare, was appointed to the board of directors of the Private Duty Homecare Association. Thomas was chosen for her expertise in the home care and telemedicine fields. She also presented information about telehealth at association conferences in July and August.

Insurance

The Northwestern Mutual Financial Network named Missouri State University junior Brittany Marcus a Power of 10 Award winner for her work during the 2004-2005 academic year. Marcus, a member of the Yaktine Financial Group, was recognized for her achievement at the 2005 College Award Show. The award recognizes financial representative interns who have obtained a specific level of success in building their businesses and developing their client bases.

Retail

Four Springfield Noevir consultants won a free trip to Japan from the Japanese cosmetics company. Gloria Calhoun, Dianne Ely, Mary Lou Foss and Janice Markley will fly April 10 from Springfield to Los Angeles to Tokyo. The four women will tour the country and see how Noevir products are researched and manufactured.

Glenn Kristek, co-owner of Wickman's Garden Village, launched the company's new Web site, 417flowers.com. The site allows customers to browse and order flowers and gardening products online. Wickman's is one of more than 18,000 FTD florists on the Web.

Utilities

City Utilities received an unqualified, or “clean,” financial audit from KPMG LLP for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. The report, recently delivered to the Board of Public Utilities, stated that no material weaknesses were found and that there were no disagreements with the utility's management.